Ultrasound diagnostic apparatus and control method of ultrasound diagnostic apparatus

ABSTRACT

Provided is an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus including an ultrasound probe, an imaging section that images the subject on the basis of a reception signal output from the ultrasound probe to generate an ultrasound image, an image analysis section that performs image analysis using the ultrasound image, a movement detection sensor that detects and outputs a movement of the ultrasound probe as a detection signal, a movement amount calculation section that calculates a movement amount of the ultrasound probe in a case where an imaging inspection portion that is currently being imaged among a plurality of inspection portions of the subject is inspected, using the detection signal output from the movement detection sensor, and a portion discrimination section that discriminates the imaging inspection portion on the basis of an image analysis result in the image analysis section and the movement amount calculated by the movement amount calculation section.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/354,546, filed Mar. 15, 2019, which is a Continuation of PCTInternational Application No. PCT/JP2017/015464 filed on Apr. 17, 2017,which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) to Japanese PatentApplication No. 2016-187003 filed on Sep. 26, 2016. The aboveapplications are hereby expressly incorporated by reference, in theirentirety, into the present application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus anda control method of the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus, and moreparticularly, to an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus that discriminatesan inspection portion that is currently being imaged.

2. Description of the Related Art

In the related art, an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus that uses anultrasound image has been put to practical use in a medical field.Generally, such an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus operates anultrasound beam into a subject from an ultrasound probe in which anarray transducer is provided, receives an ultrasound echo from thesubject using the ultrasound probe to output a reception signal, andelectrically processes the reception signal to generate an ultrasoundimage.

In a case where a plurality of inspection portions of the subject arediagnosed using such an ultrasound image, in order to obtain ultrasoundimages suitable for diagnosis with respect to the respective inspectionportions, it is necessary to set different appropriate imagingconditions in accordance with the inspection portions. In this regard,for example, JP-H4-224738A (JP1992-224738A) discloses an ultrasounddiagnostic apparatus that automatically discriminates an inspectionportion from a generated ultrasound image through a pattern matchingprocess and sets imaging conditions suitable for the inspection portionon the basis of the discrimination result.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

However, since an ultrasound image is changed due to various causes suchas a difference between shapes of inspection portions and a differencebetween dynamic ranges or brightnesses due to a difference betweenpassage easinesses of ultrasound for the inspection portions, there is aconcern that the inspection portions may be mistakenly discriminatedonly using the discrimination of the inspection portions based on theultrasound image. In this case, there is a concern that inappropriateimaging conditions may be set on the basis of the mistakendiscrimination result and an ultrasound image with a low image qualitymay be generated to cause an error in diagnosis.

The invention has been made in consideration of the problems in therelated art, and an object of the invention is to provide an ultrasounddiagnostic apparatus and a control method of the ultrasound diagnosticapparatus capable of accurately discriminating an inspection portion.

According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided an ultrasounddiagnostic apparatus comprising: an ultrasound probe; an imaging sectionthat performs transmission and reception of an ultrasound beam between asubject and the ultrasound probe and images the subject on the basis ofa reception signal output from the ultrasound probe to generate anultrasound image; an image analysis section that performs image analysisusing the ultrasound image generated by the imaging section; a movementdetection sensor that is attached to the ultrasound probe and detects amovement of the ultrasound probe to output the movement as a detectionsignal; a movement amount calculation section that calculates a movementamount of the ultrasound probe in a case where an imaging inspectionportion that is currently being imaged among a plurality of inspectionportions of the subject is inspected, using the detection signal outputfrom the movement detection sensor; and a portion discrimination sectionthat discriminates the imaging inspection portion on the basis of animage analysis result in the image analysis section and the movementamount calculated by the movement amount calculation section.

The portion discrimination section may integrate the image analysisresult in the image analysis section and the movement amount calculatedby the movement amount calculation section to discriminate the imaginginspection portion.

Further, it is preferable that the image analysis section performs theimage analysis using the ultrasound image to calculate a feature amountof the ultrasound image, and the portion discrimination sectionintegrates the feature amount calculated by the image analysis sectionand the movement amount calculated by the movement amount calculationsection to discriminate the imaging inspection portion.

Further, the portion discrimination section may narrow down theplurality of inspection portions that are targets of the image analysis,on the basis of the movement amount calculated by the movement amountcalculation section, the image analysis section may perform the imageanalysis with respect to the inspection portions narrowed down by theportion discrimination section, and the portion discrimination sectionmay discriminate the imaging inspection portion using the image analysisresult in the image analysis section.

Alternatively, the portion discrimination section may determine ananalysis order for performing the image analysis with respect to theplurality of inspection portions, on the basis of the movement amountcalculated by the movement amount calculation section, the imageanalysis section may sequentially perform the image analysis withrespect to the plurality of inspection portions in accordance with theanalysis order determined by the portion discrimination section, and theportion discrimination section may discriminate the imaging inspectionportion using the image analysis result in the image analysis section.

It is preferable that the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus furthercomprises: a movement amount reference value memory in which a pluralityof movement amount reference values corresponding to the plurality ofinspection portions of the subject and relating to the movement amountare stored in advance. Further, it is preferable that the portiondiscrimination section reads out the plurality of movement amountreference values from the movement amount reference value memory,compares each of the plurality of read-out movement amount referencevalues with the movement amount calculated by the movement amountcalculation section, and discriminates the imaging inspection portion onthe basis of the comparison result and the image analysis result in theimage analysis section.

It is preferable that the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus furthercomprises: a probe operating information memory in which informationrelating to an operation of the ultrasound probe is stored in advancefor each inspector or each subject. Further, it is preferable that theportion discrimination section reads out the information relating to theoperation of the ultrasound probe from the probe operating informationmemory, corrects the plurality of movement amount reference values onthe basis of the read-out information, compares each of the plurality ofcorrected movement amount reference values with the movement amountcalculated by the movement amount calculation section, and discriminatesthe imaging inspection portion on the basis of the comparison result andthe image analysis result in the image analysis section.

The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus may further comprise: an imagingcondition setting section that sets an imaging condition correspondingto the imaging inspection portion discriminated by the portiondiscrimination section, and the imaging section may generate theultrasound image in accordance with the imaging condition set by theimaging condition setting section.

It is preferable that the movement detection sensor is formed by anacceleration sensor, a gyro sensor, a magnetic sensor, or a GPS sensor.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided acontrol method of an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus comprising:performing transmission and reception of an ultrasound beam between asubject and an ultrasound probe and imaging the subject on the basis ofa reception signal output from the ultrasound probe to generate anultrasound image; performing image analysis using the generatedultrasound image; detecting a movement of the ultrasound probe to outputthe movement as a detection signal; calculating a movement amount of theultrasound probe in a case where an imaging inspection portion that iscurrently being imaged among a plurality of inspection portions of thesubject is inspected, using the output detection signal; anddiscriminating the imaging inspection portion on the basis of an imageanalysis result and the calculated movement amount.

According to the invention, since the ultrasound diagnostic apparatuscomprises an ultrasound probe; an imaging section that performstransmission and reception of an ultrasound beam between a subject andthe ultrasound probe and images the subject on the basis of a receptionsignal output from the ultrasound probe to generate an ultrasound image;an image analysis section that performs image analysis using theultrasound image generated by the imaging section; a movement detectionsensor that is attached to the ultrasound probe and detects a movementof the ultrasound probe to output the movement as a detection signal; amovement amount calculation section that calculates a movement amount ofthe ultrasound probe in a case where an imaging inspection portion thatis currently being imaged among a plurality of inspection portions ofthe subject is inspected, using the detection signal output from themovement detection sensor; and a portion discrimination section thatdiscriminates the imaging inspection portion on the basis of an imageanalysis result in the image analysis section and the movement amountcalculated by the movement amount calculation section, it is possible toaccurately discriminate an inspection portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of ultrasound diagnosticapparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a reception section.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of an image processingsection.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an ultrasound probe.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation of Embodiment 1.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of an ultrasound image of thelungs.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of an ultrasound image of theabdomen.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of an ultrasound image of theheart.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of an ultrasound image of theright abdomen.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of distribution of featureamounts.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a configuration of ultrasound diagnosisapparatus according to Embodiment 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, embodiments of the invention will be described on the basisof the accompanying drawings.

Embodiment 1

FIG. 1 shows a configuration of an ultrasound diagnostic apparatusaccording to Embodiment 1. The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus comprisesan ultrasound probe 1 in which an array transducer 1A is provided, animage generation section 3 that is connected to the ultrasound probe 1through a transmission/reception section 2, and a display section 5 thatis connected to the image generation section 3 through a displaycontroller 4.

The transmission/reception section 2 includes a reception section 6 anda transmission section 7 that are connected to the array transducer 1A,and a transmission/reception controller 8 that is connected to thereception section 6 and the transmission section 7. The image generationsection 3 includes an image processing section 9 and a digital scanconverter (DSC) 10 that is connected to the image processing section 9.The display controller 4 is connected to the DSC 10. Further, an imageanalysis section 11 is connected to the DSC 10, and a portiondiscrimination section 12 is connected to the image analysis section 11.

An imaging condition setting section 13 is connected to thetransmission/reception controller 8 of the transmission/receptionsection 2, and the image processing section 9 and the DSC 10 of theimage generation section 3.

A movement detection sensor 14 is attached to the ultrasound probe 1,and a movement amount calculation section 15 is connected to themovement detection sensor 14. Further, the portion discriminationsection 12 is also connected to the movement amount calculation section15.

An apparatus controller 16 is connected to the display controller 4, theimage analysis section 11, the portion discrimination section 12, theimaging condition setting section 13, and the movement amountcalculation section 15. Further, an operation section 17, a storagesection 18, and a movement amount reference value memory 19 arerespectively connected to the apparatus controller 16.

The array transducer 1A of the ultrasound probe 1 includes a pluralityof ultrasound transducers that are arranged in one dimension or twodimensions. Each of the ultrasound transducers transmits ultrasound inaccordance with a drive signal supplied from the transmission section 7,and receives an ultrasound echo from a subject to output a receptionsignal. Each ultrasound transducer is formed using a vibrator in whichelectrodes are formed on opposite ends of a piezoelectric body formed ofpiezoelectric ceramics represented as lead zirconate titanate (PZT), ahigh polymer piezoelectric element represented as polyvinylidenefluoride (PVDF), piezoelectric crystals represented as magnesiumniobate-lead titanate solute (PMN-PT), or the like.

In a case where a pulse-shaped voltage or a continuous wave voltage isapplied to the electrodes of the vibrator, the piezoelectric bodyexpands and contracts, a pulse-shaped ultrasound or a continuous waveultrasound is generated from each vibrator, and an ultrasound beam isformed by synthesis of the ultrasounds. Further, each vibrator receivesa propagating ultrasound to stretch and compresses to generate anelectric signal, and the electric signal is output as an ultrasoundreception signal.

The transmission/reception section 2 performs transmission and receptionof an ultrasound beam in accordance with a set ultrasound beam scanningcondition, and the image generation section 3 generates an ultrasoundimage signal in accordance with the set ultrasound image generationcondition. The transmission/reception section 2 and the image generationsection 3 form an imaging section.

The reception section 6 of the transmission/reception section 2 has aconfiguration in which an amplification section 20 and ananalogue/digital (A/D) conversion section 21 are sequentially connectedin series, as shown in FIG. 2 . The reception section 6 amplifies areception signal transmitted from each ultrasound transducer of thearray transducer 1A using the amplification section 20, and performs A/Dconversion with respect to the amplified signal using the A/D conversionsection 21 to generate digital reception data.

The transmission/reception controller 8 controls the reception section 6and the transmission section 7 so that transmission of ultrasound pulsesto a subject and reception of ultrasound echoes from the subject arerepeated at a pulse repetition frequency (PRF) interval, on the basis ofvarious control signals transmitted from the apparatus controller 16.

The image processing section 9 of the image generation section 3 has aconfiguration in which a beam former 22 and a signal processing section23 are sequentially connected in series, as shown in FIG. 3 . The beamformer 22 assigns a delay to each piece of reception data output fromthe reception section 6 of the transmission/reception section 2 inaccordance with sound velocities set on the basis of a reception delaypattern selected in accordance with control signals from the imagingcondition setting section 13 or a distribution of the sound velocitiesand adds up the results to perform a reception focus process. Throughthe reception focus process, a sound ray signal in which focuses ofultrasound echoes after phasing addition are narrowed down is generated.

The signal processing section 23 corrects attenuation due to a distancein accordance with a depth of a reflecting position of ultrasound withrespect to a sound ray signal generated by the beam former 22, and then,performs an envelope detection process and performs a variety ofnecessary image processing such as a gradation process, to therebygenerate an ultrasound image signal that is tomographic imageinformation of a tissue in a subject.

As the ultrasound image, for example, a brightness mode (B mode) image,a motion mode (M mode) image, a color Doppler imaging, or the like maybe used. Further, a sound velocity map indicating a distribution ofsound velocities, or an elasticity map indicating a distribution ofelasticities indicating smoothness or the like of a tissue in a subjectmay be used as the ultrasound image.

The DSC 10 of the image generation section 3 converts an ultrasoundimage signal generated by the signal processing section 23 of the imageprocessing section 9 into an image signal based on a scanning method ofa general television signal (raster conversion).

The display section 5 includes a display device such as a liquid crystaldisplay (LCD), for example, and displays an ultrasound image under thecontrol of the display controller 4.

The image analysis section 11 performs image analysis using anultrasound image from the DSC 10. For example, a feature amount such asa brightness or an edge of the ultrasound image is calculated. Further,in a case where a B mode image signal or an M mode image signal is used,the image analysis may be performed on the basis of a known patternrecognition method such as machine learning, template matching, ortexture analysis. In addition, in a case where a color Doppler imagesignal, a sound velocity map or an elasticity map is used, the imageanalysis may be performed on the basis of a known method such as colorinformation analysis.

The movement detection sensor 14 is attached to the ultrasound probe 1,and detects a movement of the ultrasound probe 1 in a case where theultrasound probe 1 is operated by an operator and outputs the movementof the ultrasound probe 1 to the movement amount calculation section 15as a detection signal. The movement detection sensor 14 is notparticularly limited as long as it is possible to detect the movement orposition of the ultrasound probe 1, and for example, may be formed by anacceleration sensor, a gyro sensor, a magnetic sensor, a GPS sensor, orother sensors capable of detecting a movement. Further, in order to moreaccurately detect the movement of the ultrasound probe 1, plural sensorsamong the above-mentioned sensors may be used in combination.

The movement amount calculation section 15 calculates movement amountsof the ultrasound probe 1 in a case where an imaging inspection portionthat is currently being imaged is inspected using a detection signalfrom the movement detection sensor 14 for each frame, and outputs theresult to the portion discrimination section 12. Specifically, themovement amount calculation section 15 calculates movement amounts ofthe ultrasound probe 1 shown in FIG. 4 in each direction. Here, for easeof description, an axis that extends along a direction in whichultrasound is output from the ultrasound probe 1 shown in FIG. 4 isreferred to as a Z axis, an axis that crosses the Z axis is referred toas an X axis, and an axis that crosses the Z axis and the X axis isreferred to as a Y axis. Further, a rotation direction (pitch) centeringaround the X axis is referred to as a pitch direction PT, a rotationdirection (roll) centering around the Y axis is referred to as a rolldirection RO, and a rotation direction (yaw) centering around the Z axisis referred to as a yaw direction YW. That is, the movement amountcalculation section 15 calculates a movement amount in a direction alongthe X axis, a movement amount in a direction along the Y axis, amovement amount in a direction along the Z axis, a movement amount inthe roll direction RO, a movement amount in the pitch direction PT, anda movement amount in the yaw direction YW, with respect to theultrasound probe 1 in a case where the imaging inspection portion thatis currently being imaged is inspected.

The movement amount reference value memory 19 stores a plurality ofmovement amount reference values relating to movement amounts for eachinspection portion of the ultrasound probe 1 in advance, in which theplurality of movement amount reference values correspond to a pluralityof inspection portions of a subject. For example, generally, ininspection of the lungs, the ultrasound probe 1 is not nearly moved, andin inspection of the abdomen, the ultrasound probe 1 is greatly moved toobserve a wide range. In this way, since the movement of the ultrasoundprobe 1 is changed for each inspection portion, movement amounts of theultrasound probe 1 in inspection of each inspection portion may bepredicted to be set as the movement amount reference values. Further, bycomparing the reference values with the movement amounts of theultrasound probe 1, it is possible to determine which inspection portionis in inspection corresponding to the movement amounts.

As inspection portions of the subject, for example, in the case ofextended focused assessment with sonography for trauma (eFAST)inspection, the lungs, the heart, the abdomen, the bladder, and the likemay be considered. Portions other than the plurality of inspectionportions may be added. Here, among the plurality of inspection portionsof the subject, an inspection portion that is currently being imaged isdetermined as an imaging inspection portion.

The portion discrimination section 12 discriminates an imaginginspection portion that is currently being imaged on the basis of animage analysis result in the image analysis section 11 and movementamounts of the ultrasound probe 1 calculated by the movement amountcalculation section 15, and outputs the portion discrimination result tothe apparatus controller 16.

Specifically, the portion discrimination section 12 reads out aplurality of movement amount reference values from the movement amountreference value memory 19, and compares each of the plurality ofread-out movement amount reference values with each movement amount ofthe ultrasound probe 1 calculated by the movement amount calculationsection 15. Further, the portion discrimination section 12 combines thecomparison result and the image analysis result in the image analysissection 11 to discriminate the imaging inspection portion that iscurrently being imaged. In order to perform the portion discrimination,for example, a support vector machine (SVM) algorithm, a decision treealgorithm, or other known discrimination algorithms may be used.

In this way, the portion discrimination section 12 may integrate theimage analysis result and the movement amount of the ultrasound probe 1to perform the portion discrimination.

The apparatus controller 16 outputs the portion discrimination resultoutput from the portion discrimination section 12 to the imagingcondition setting section 13.

Further, the apparatus controller 16 controls the display controller 4,the image analysis section 11, the portion discrimination section 12,the imaging condition setting section 13, and the movement amountcalculation section 15 on the basis of commands input through theoperation section 17 from the operator.

The imaging condition setting section 13 sets imaging conditionssuitable for a discriminated imaging inspection portion with respect tothe imaging section formed by the transmission/reception section 2 andthe image generation section 3, on the basis of the portiondiscrimination result input from the apparatus controller 16. Theimaging conditions include an ultrasound beam scanning condition for thetransmission/reception section 2 and an ultrasound image generationcondition for the image generation section 3.

Among the imaging conditions, as the ultrasound beam scanning conditionfor the transmission/reception section 2, a transmission frequency of anultrasound beam, a focal position, a display depth, or the like may beused, and as the ultrasound image generation condition for the imagegeneration section 3, a sound velocity, a wave detection condition, again, a dynamic range, a gradation curve, a speckle suppressionstrength, an edge emphasis degree, or the like may be used.

The operation section 17 is a unit through which an operator performs aninput operation, and may be formed by a keyboard, a mouse, a trackball,a touch panel, or the like.

The storage section 18 stores an operation program or the like, and maybe configured using a recording medium such as a hard disk, a flexibledisc, a magneto-optical disc (MO), a magnetic tape (MT), a random accessmemory (RAM), a compact disc read only memory (CD-ROM), a digitalversatile disc read only memory (DVD-ROM), a secure digital card (SDcard), a compact flash card (CF card), a universal serial bus memory(USB memory), or a server.

The transmission/reception controller 8 of the transmission/receptionsection 2, the image generation section 3, the display controller 4, theimage analysis section 11, the portion discrimination section 12, theimaging condition setting section 13, the movement amount calculationsection 15, and the apparatus controller 16 are configured by aprocessor including a central processing unit (CPU) and an operationprogram for causing the CPU to execute various processes, and may beconfigured by a digital circuit. Further, a configuration in which thetransmission/reception controller 8 of the transmission/receptionsection 2, the image generation section 3, the display controller 4, theimage analysis section 11, the portion discrimination section 12, theimaging condition setting section 13, the movement amount calculationsection 15, and the apparatus controller 16 are partially or generallyintegrated into one CPU may be employed.

Next, an operation of Embodiment 1 will be described with reference to aflowchart of FIG. 5 .

First, in step S1, transmission and reception and scanning of anultrasound beam using the plurality of ultrasound transducers of thearray transducer 1A of the ultrasound probe 1 are performed by thetransmission/reception section 2, a reception signal is output to thereception section 6 from each ultrasound transducer that receives anultrasound echo from a subject, and is amplified and A/D converted inthe reception section 6 to generate reception data.

Then, in step S2, the reception data is input to the image generationsection 3, and is subjected to a reception focus process in the imageprocessing section 9. Then, the data is subjected to image conversion inthe DSC 10 to generate an ultrasound image signal. The ultrasound imagesignal is output to the display controller 4 from the image generationsection 3, so that an ultrasound image is displayed on the displaysection 5. Further, the ultrasound image signal is also output to theimage analysis section 11.

In step S3, it is determined whether an imaging inspection portion ofthe ultrasound image signal is changed, by the image analysis section11. For example, in a case where the imaging inspection portion that iscurrently being imaged is changed to the heart from the lungs, it isdetermined that the imaging inspection portion is changed. Specifically,generally, since in a case where the imaging inspection portion ischanged, the ultrasound probe 1 is separated from the front surface ofthe body and performs radiation in the air, by detecting such aradiation state in the air (a state where a reflection signal is notobtained), it is possible to determine the change of the imaginginspection portion. Alternatively, in step S3, in a case where it isdetermined that the radiation state in the air first shifts to a contactstate with respect to a subject, in order to generate an ultrasoundimage in the imaging inspection portion, the procedure proceeds to stepS4.

Through step S4 and S5, the ultrasound image is generated. In step S6, amovement of the ultrasound probe 1 is detected in a case where theimaging inspection portion is inspected by the operator using themovement detection sensor 14 attached to the ultrasound probe 1, and theresult is output to the movement amount calculation section 15 as adetection signal. For example, in a case where an acceleration sensor isattached to the ultrasound probe 1 as the movement detection sensor 14,an acceleration is output to the movement amount calculation section 15as the detection signal.

Further, in step S7, it is determined whether the number of frames F ofultrasound images generated through steps S4 and S5 is equal to orgreater than a predetermined number of frames Fs. Until the number offrames F is equal to or greater than the predetermined number of framesFs, steps S4 to S7 are repeated, and thus, ultrasound images aregenerated, and movements of the ultrasound probe 1 are detected.

In step S7, in a case where it is determined that the number of frames Fis equal to or greater than the predetermined number of frames Fs, amovement amount of the ultrasound probe 1 is calculated by the movementamount calculation section 15, in step S8. The movement amountcalculation section 15 calculates a pitch angle that is a rotation anglein the pitch direction PT for each frame, using the detection signal ofthe acceleration output from the movement detection sensor 14. Thus, forexample, a calculation result shown in Table 1 is obtained.

TABLE 1 Frame Number N-4 N-3 N-2 N-1 N Pitch angle (degree) 33 33 31 3638 Pitch angle change (degree) 0 −2 5 2

In Table 1, the latest frame number is N, and the oldest frame number isN−4. A pitch angle of the frame number N−4 is 33°, and a pitch angle ofthe next frame number N−3 is 33°. Thus, a change of the pitch anglesfrom the frame number N−4 to N−3 is 0°. A total value of absolute valuesof the changes of the pitch angles from the frame number N−4 to N, thatis, 0+2+5+2=9° may be set as a movement amount of the ultrasound probe1. The movement amount of the ultrasound probe 1 is not limited to thetotal value of the absolute values of the changes of the pitch anglesbetween the frames, and may be a total value of absolute values ofchanges of pitch angles in a predetermined period of time.

As shown in Table 2, by assigning a weight to each frame so that aweight of the most recent frame is the largest, the degree of importanceof the most recent frame may be enhanced.

TABLE 2 Frame Number N-4 N-3 N-2 N-1 N Pitch angle (degree) 33 33 31 3638 Pitch angle change (rate) 0 −2 5 2 Weight 1 2 3 4

A total value of absolute values of changes of pitch angles from theframe number N−4 to N in Table 2 becomes (0×1)+(2×2)+(3×5)+(2×4)=27°,which may be set as a movement amount of the ultrasound probe 1.

In a case where the total value of the absolute values of the changes ofthe pitch angles from the frame number N−4 to N is calculated, in a casewhere the ultrasound probe 1 is moved in small steps, it is highlylikely that a relatively large value is calculated. On the other hand,in a case where a difference between a maximum value of a minimum valueof the pitch angles from the frame number N−4 to N is calculated, evenin a case where the ultrasound probe 1 is moved in small steps, it ishighly likely that a relatively small value is calculated. In Tables 1and 2, the difference between the maximum value and the minimum value ofthe pitch angles from the frame number N−4 to N is 38−31=7°, which maybe set as a movement amount of the ultrasound probe 1.

The movement amount of the ultrasound probe 1 calculated by the movementamount calculation section 15 in this way is output to the portiondiscrimination section 12.

Further, in step S9, image analysis is performed by the image analysissection 11 using the ultrasound image. The image analysis section 11calculates a feature amount such as a brightness or an edge of theultrasound image output from the image generation section 3. Forexample, it is assumed that an ultrasound image signal for displayingthe ultrasound image as shown in FIG. 6 is output to the image analysissection 11 from the image generation section 3. The ultrasound image inFIG. 6 is an example of an ultrasound image of the lungs.

Since the lungs are filled with air and a structure thereof is noteasily visualized, in a middle depth portion shown in FIG. 6 , thebrightness is generally low compared with other inspection portions.Thus, in the middle depth portion, an average value of brightnesses isset as a feature amount. Here, an average value of entire brightnessesin the middle depth portion may be calculated, or a region-of-interest(ROI) may be dividedly set in a depth direction or a lateral directionand an average value of brightnesses in the ROI may be calculated.

Further, since the structure of the lungs is not easily visualized inthe middle depth portion, generally, edges are small compared with otherportions. Accordingly, after the edges are extracted, an edge area andan edge strength of the middle depth portion are calculated to be set asfeature amounts. In this case, the region-of-interest as described abovemay be dividedly set in the middle depth portion to calculate the edgearea and the edge strength.

In the ultrasound image of the lungs, since the pleura are visualized,edges in a lateral direction are present in a shallow portion. Thus,after the edges are extracted, the edge area and the edge strength inthe lateral direction in the shallow portion may be calculated asfeature amounts.

The image analysis section 11 outputs the feature amounts of theultrasound image calculated in this way to the portion discriminationsection 12 as the image analysis result.

In the next step S10, an imaging inspection portion that is currentlybeing imaged is discriminated by the portion discrimination section 12.First, the portion discrimination section 12 distinguishes the lungsfrom inspection portions other than the lungs on the basis of the imageanalysis result output from the image analysis section 11. Here, duringthe inspection of the abdomen, since a structure similar to the lungsmay be visualized according to a scanning section, there is a case whereit is difficult to distinguish the lungs from the abdomen. For example,an example of an ultrasound image of the abdomen shown in FIG. 7 issimilar to the example of the ultrasound image of the lung shown in FIG.6 .

Next, the portion discrimination section 12 reads out movement amountreference values corresponding to inspections of the lungs, the heart,the abdomen, and the bladder from the movement amount reference valuememory 19, respectively, and compares each of the movement amountreference values with the movement amount of the ultrasound probe 1calculated by the movement amount calculation section 15. As describedabove, generally, in a case where the lungs are inspected, theultrasound probe 1 is not nearly moved, and in a case where the abdomenis inspected, the ultrasound probe 1 is greatly moved. Accordingly, itis possible to determine whether the inspection of the lungs isperformed or the inspection of the abdomen is performed according to themovement amount of the ultrasound probe 1. Further, the movement amountof the ultrasound probe 1 shown in Table 1 is 9°, which represents avery small movement of the ultrasound probe 1. Thus, the portiondiscrimination section 12 discriminates that the imaging inspectionportion is the lungs, and outputs the discrimination result to theapparatus controller 16.

In this way, by integrating the image analysis result in the imageanalysis section 11 with the movement amount of the ultrasound probe 1calculated by the movement amount calculation section 15, even in a casewhere it is difficult to discriminate an imaging inspection portion onlyusing the image analysis result, it is possible to accuratelydiscriminate the imaging inspection portion.

Further, in step S11, the result of the portion discrimination in theportion discrimination section 12 is output to the imaging conditionsetting section 13 through the apparatus controller 16. The imagingcondition setting section 13 sets imaging conditions based on the resultof the portion discrimination, and controls the transmission/receptionsection 2 and the image generation section 3 on the basis of the imagingconditions.

Then, the procedure returns to step S1, and in steps S1 and S2, anultrasound image is generated in a state where imaging conditions areset by the imaging condition setting section 13, and the ultrasoundimage is displayed on the display section 5. Until it is determined thatthe imaging inspection portion is changed by the portion discriminationsection 12 in step S3, steps S1 and S2 are repeated, and diagnosis ofthe lungs that correspond to the imaging inspection portion iscontinued.

In step S3, in a case where it is determined that the imaging inspectionportion is changed, the procedure proceeds to step S4, and imagingconditions for the changed imaging inspection portion are set throughsteps S4 to S11, and then, steps S1 and S2 are repeated, so thatdiagnosis of the changed imaging inspection portion may be continued.

In this way, by discriminating an imaging inspection portion that iscurrently being imaged by integrating an image analysis result with amovement amount of the ultrasound probe, it is possible to accuratelydiscriminate the imaging inspection portion, and to generate anultrasound image with stable quality to diagnose the imaging inspectionportion.

The movement amount calculation section 15 may calculate a movementamount (movement distance) in the direction along the X axis, a movementamount (movement distance) in the direction along the Y axis, a movementamount (movement distance) in the direction along the Z axis, and amovement amount (movement angle) in the roll direction RO and a movementamount (movement angle) in the yaw direction YW, in addition to themovement amount of the ultrasound probe 1 in the pitch direction PT asshown in Table 1. Further, in a state where the movement amounts arecalculated, the movement amount calculation section 15 may add up themovement amount in the roll direction RO, the movement amount in thepitch direction PT, and the movement amount in the roll direction RO,and may use the result as an index indicating how much the ultrasoundprobe 1 swings. Further, the movement amount calculation section 15 mayadd up the movement amount in the direction along the X axis, themovement amount in the direction along the Y axis, and the movementamount in the direction along the Z axis, and may use the result as anindex indicating how much the ultrasound probe 1 slides.

Further, in accordance with a characteristic and a feature of diagnosisfor each inspection portion, the portion discrimination section 12 maychange movement amounts to be used for execution of the portiondiscrimination among the movement amounts of the ultrasound probe 1 inthe respective directions calculated by the movement amount calculationsection 15, for each inspection portion. For example, as describedabove, generally, in a case where the lungs are inspected, theultrasound probe 1 is not nearly moved. Thus, since it is consideredthat the movement amount in the direction along the X axis, the movementamount in the direction along the Y axis, the movement amount in thedirection along the Z axis, the movement amount in the roll directionRO, the movement amount in the pitch direction PT, and the movementamount in the yaw direction YW are relatively small, the entirety ofthese movement amounts may be used. On the other hand, in a case wherethe heart is inspected, generally, it is considered that variationeasily occurs in the change of the movement amount in each direction foreach operator due to a habit of an operator in operating the ultrasoundprobe 1 and easy visualization of an ultrasound image. Thus, themovement amount in the direction along the X axis, the movement amountin the direction along the Y axis, and the movement amount in thedirection along the Z axis may be used.

Further, it is also possible to discriminate an imaging inspectionportion using the movement amount of the ultrasound probe 1 calculatedby the movement amount calculation section 15, in addition to thefeature amount calculated through the image analysis, as the featureamount. The movement amount of the ultrasound probe 1 calculated by themovement amount calculation section 15 may be used as the feature amountas it is. Alternatively, an average or a variance of the movementamounts of the ultrasound probe 1 for each inspection portion may becalculated, and the movement amounts may be normalized on the basis ofthe calculated value to be used as feature amounts.

Then, for example, it is assumed that the ultrasound image as shown inFIG. 8 is output to the image analysis section 11. The ultrasound imageshown in FIG. 8 is an example of an ultrasound image of the heart.

As shown in FIG. 8 , the heart has a variety of edges in an inclineddirection due to a core-wall, a septum, and the like in a middle depthportion. Accordingly, after the edges are extracted, it is possible tocalculate an edge area and an edge strength of the middle depth portionin the inclined direction. Since the edges are noticeably shown on aright side of the ultrasound image shown in FIG. 8 , an edge area and anedge strength may be calculated only on the right side in the middledepth portion.

Further, in the ultrasound image shown in FIG. 8 , since the core-walland the septum are displayed as white edges and blood is present betweenthe core-wall and the septum, a space between the core-wall and theseptum is displayed as a dark region. Thus, the white edges and theblack region are displayed in parallel as a pattern. Accordingly, bycalculating a score through pattern recognition with respect to thepattern or digitizing the degree of brightness change using a profile ofthe brightness change or the like, it is possible to calculate featureamounts.

On the basis of the feature amounts calculated in this way, the heartand inspection portions other than the heart are distinguished from eachother. Here, since the structure similar to the heart may be visualizedaccording to a scanning section during inspection of the abdomen, thereis a case where it is difficult to distinguish the heart from the rightabdomen. For example, in a case where an example of an ultrasound imageof the right abdomen shown in FIG. 9 is compared with the example of theultrasound image of the heart shown in FIG. 8 , there are many edges inan inclined direction in the middle depth portions in both the cases,which shows that both the cases are similar to each other.

On the other hand, focusing on the movement of the ultrasound probe 1,generally, in a case where the heart is inspected, the ultrasound probe1 is not greatly moved in the direction along the X axis, the directionalong the Y axis, and the direction along the Z axis, that is, in asliding direction. On the other hand, as described above, in a casewhere the abdomen is inspected, the ultrasound probe 1 is greatly moved.

Accordingly, for example, as shown in FIG. 10 , it is possible tocalculate a distribution of feature amounts of the heart and adistribution of inspection portions other than the heart by causing alongitudinal axis to represent a movement amount (feature amount) of theultrasound probe 1 and a lateral axis to represent a feature amount ofan ultrasound image, and to distinguish the heart and the abdomen withreference to a boundary B between the heart and the inspection portionsother than the heart. In FIG. 10 , an edge strength and an edge area inan inclined direction in a middle depth portion are used as featureamounts of an ultrasound image, for example. Further, a sum of amovement amount in the direction along the X axis, a movement amount inthe direction along the Y direction, and a movement amount in thedirection along the Z axis may be used as the movement amount of theultrasound probe 1, for example.

In addition, in comparing the inspection of the heart with theinspection of the lung, as described above, in a case where the heart isinspected, the ultrasound probe 1 is not greatly moved in the directionalong the X axis, the direction along the Y axis, and the directionalong the Z axis, and in a case where the lungs are inspected, theultrasound probe 1 is not greatly moved in any direction. That is, it isdifficult to distinguish the heart from the lungs only using themovement amount of the ultrasound probe 1. On the other hand, as shownin FIG. 6 , since edges are not nearly present in the inclined directionin the example of the ultrasound image of the lungs, feature amounts ofthe ultrasound images of the lungs and the heart are different from eachother. Accordingly, in the distributions of the feature amounts of theheart and the inspection portions other than the heart shown in FIG. 10, it is possible to distinguish the heart from the lungs with referenceto the boundary B between the heart and the inspection portions otherthan the heart.

In FIG. 10 , the edge strength and the edge area in the inclineddirection in the middle depth portion are used as the feature amounts ofthe ultrasound image, but a brightness may be added thereto. Further,the sum of the movement amount in the direction along the X axis, themovement amount in the direction along the Y direction, and the movementamount in the direction along the Z axis are used as the movement amountof the ultrasound probe 1, but a movement amount in the pitch directionPT, a movement amount in the roll direction RO, and a movement amount inthe yaw direction YW may be added thereto. Thus, it is possible tocalculate a distribution of feature amounts in multi dimensions.

Embodiment 2

In Embodiment 1, the portion discrimination section 12 integrates animage analysis result and a movement amount of the ultrasound probe 1 toperform portion discrimination. On the other hand, in Embodiment 2, theportion discrimination section 12 narrows down a plurality of inspectionportions that are targets of image analysis, on the basis of a movementamount of the ultrasound probe 1.

An ultrasound image is generated through steps S1 to S7 in the flowchartof FIG. 5 , and a movement of the ultrasound probe 1 is detected. Then,movement amounts of the ultrasound probe 1 as shown in the followingTable 3 are calculated by the movement amount calculation section 15 instep S8, for example.

TABLE 3 Pitch Roll Yaw Direction Direction Direction direction directiondirection along X along Y along Z PT RO YW axis axis axis Movementamount 3 4 3 1 0 6 Setting range 0 to 5 0 to 5 0 to 5 0 to 5 0 to 5 0 to5

The movement amounts shown in Table 3 are obtained by adding up absolutevalues of changes of movement amounts between predetermined frames asdescribed above and normalizing the total values. Calculation results ofthe movement amounts are output to the portion discrimination section12.

In the next step S9, in performing image analysis using an ultrasoundimage by the image analysis section 11, inspection portions that aretargets of the image analysis are narrowed down by the portiondiscrimination section 12. The portion discrimination section 12 readsout a plurality of movement amount reference values corresponding to aplurality of inspection portions from the movement amount referencevalue memory 19, and sets setting ranges with respect to movementamounts in respective directions of the ultrasound probe 1, as shown inTable 3, on the basis of the plurality of movement amount referencevalues.

As described above, generally, in a case where the lungs are inspected,the ultrasound probe 1 is not nearly moved. Thus, as shown in Table 3,setting ranges of 0 to 5 are provided with respect to the movementamounts in the respective directions. In a case where any movementamount among the movement amounts in the respective directions exceedsan upper limit value of the setting range, it is possible to determinethat the image analysis is not performed with respect to the lungs. InTable 3, since the movement amount in the direction along the Z axis is6 and exceeds the upper limit of the setting range, the image analysisis not performed with respect to the lungs for a predetermined period oftime.

Here, the period of time during which the image analysis is notperformed with respect to the lungs may be set to any one of a period oftime between frames where the movement amounts of the ultrasound probe 1are calculated, a period of time until a predetermined period of timeelapses after an ultrasound image corresponding to a frame where themovement amounts are calculated is generated, or a period of time untilinspection of an imaging inspection portion that is currently beingimaged is terminated after the ultrasound image corresponding to theframe where the movement amounts are calculated is generated. The periodof time when the image analysis is not performed with respect to thelungs may be set in advance from these periods of time, and may bechanged in accordance with how much the movement amount of theultrasound probe 1 and the setting range corresponding to the movementamount are spaced from each other.

Further, as described above, generally, in a case where the heart isinspected, variation in changes of movement amounts in respectivedirections for each operator easily occurs. Further, it is consideredthat the ultrasound probe 1 is greatly moved compared with theinspection of the lungs. Accordingly, the portion discrimination section12 may provide setting ranges of 0 to 10 with respect to the movementamount in the direction along the X axis, the movement amount in thedirection along the Y axis, and the movement amount in the directionalong the Z axis, as shown in Table 4, on the basis of the plurality ofmovement amount reference values.

TABLE 4 Pitch Roll Yaw Direction Direction Direction direction directiondirection along X along Y along Z PT RO YW axis axis axis Movementamount 3 4 3 1 0 6 Setting range — — — 0 to 10 0 to 10 0 to 10

In Table 4, since the movement amount in the direction along the Z axisis 6 and is within the setting range, the image analysis is performedwith respect to the heart.

Further, generally, in a case where the bladder is inspected, theultrasound probe 1 is greatly moved in the pitch direction PT or thedirection along the Y axis so that the entire bladder is viewed.Accordingly, as shown in Table 5, a setting range of 30 or greater maybe set with respect to the movement amount in the pitch direction PT orthe movement amount in the direction along the Y axis. Further, in acase where the movement amount in any direction does not reach the lowerlimit value of the setting range, it is possible to determine that theimage analysis is not performed with respect to the bladder.

TABLE 5 Pitch Roll Yaw Direction Direction Direction direction directiondirection along X along Y along Z PT RO YW axis axis axis Movementamount 3 4 3 1 0 6 Setting range 30 or — — — 30 or — greater greater

In Table 5, since the movement amount in the pitch direction PT is 3 andthe movement amount in the direction along the Y axis is 0, that is, anymovement amount does not reach the lower limit value of the settingrange, the image analysis is not performed with respect to the bladderfor a predetermined period of time.

As described above, a plurality of inspection portions that are targetsof image analysis are narrowed down by the portion discriminationsection 12 on the basis of the movement amounts of the ultrasound probe1, and the narrow-down result of the inspection portions is output tothe image analysis section 11.

Further, the image analysis section 11 performs image analysis withrespect to the plurality of inspection portions that are narrowed downby the portion discrimination section 12, and outputs the image analysisresult to the portion discrimination section 12. In the next step S10,the portion discrimination section 12 discriminates an imaginginspection portion using the image analysis result.

In this way, by narrowing down inspection portions that are targets ofimage analysis on the basis of movement amounts of the ultrasound probe1, it is possible to reduce the number of image analysis processes forwhich it is generally considered that a processing load is high, and toeffectively reduce the processing load due to the image analysisprocesses.

The portion discrimination section 12 may integrate the image analysisresults for the inspection portions that are narrowed down by theportion discrimination section 12 and the movement amounts of theultrasound probe 1 calculated by the movement amount calculation section15 to discriminate the imaging inspection portion that is currentlybeing imaged. By narrowing down the inspection portions, it is possibleto accurately discriminate the imaging inspection portion while reducingthe processing load due to the image analysis processes.

Further, in narrowing down the inspection portions, in order to preventinspection portions from being overlooked, setting ranges with respectto movement amounts are provided to be wide to some extent, and thus,there is a possibility that the inspection portions may not besufficiently narrowed down. However, even though the inspection portionsare not sufficiently narrowed down, it is possible to accuratelydiscriminate the imaging inspection portion by integrating the imageanalysis results with the movement amounts of the ultrasound probe 1.

Embodiment 3

In Embodiment 1 and Embodiment 2, an analysis order for performing imageanalysis with respect to a plurality of inspection portions is notfixed, but in Embodiment 3, the analysis order is determined on thebasis of movement amounts of the ultrasound probe 1.

An ultrasound image is generated through steps S1 to S7 in the flowchartof FIG. 5 and the movements of the ultrasound probe 1 are detected. Instep S8, it is assumed that the movement amounts of the ultrasound probe1 as shown in the following Table 6 are calculated by the movementamount calculation section 15 and are output to the portiondiscrimination section 12.

TABLE 6 Pitch Roll Yaw Direction Direction Direction direction directiondirection along X along Y along Z PT RO YW axis axis axis Movementamount 3 4 3 1 0 3 Setting range 0 to 5 0 to 5 0 to 5 0 to 5 0 to 5 0 to5

In the next step S9, in performing image analysis by the image analysissection 11, an analysis order for performing the image analysis withrespect to a plurality of inspection portions is determined by theportion discrimination section 12. The portion discrimination section 12reads out a plurality of movement amount reference values correspondingto the plurality of inspection portions from the movement amountreference value memory 19, and sets setting ranges with respect to themovement amounts of the ultrasound probe 1 as shown in Table 6, on thebasis of the plurality of movement amount reference values.

As described above, generally, in a case where the lungs are inspected,the ultrasound probe 1 is not nearly moved. Thus, as shown in Table 6,setting ranges of 0 to 5 are set with respect to movement amounts in therespective directions, and in a case where the movement amounts in therespective directions are within the setting ranges, it is possible todetermine that the image analysis is preferentially performed withrespect to the lungs. In Table 3, since the movement amounts in therespective directions are within the setting ranges, the image analysisis preferentially performed with respect to the lungs. Further, bysetting ranges with respect to movement amounts of the ultrasound probe1 on the basis of movement amount reference values corresponding toinspection portions other than the lungs and comparing the settingranges with the movement amounts of the ultrasound probe 1, an analysisorder for performing image analysis with respect to the plurality ofinspection portions is determined, and the determined analysisinspection order is output to the image analysis section 11.

Further, the image analysis section 11 preferentially performs imageanalysis with respect to the lungs among the plurality of inspectionportions, in accordance with the analysis order determined by theportion discrimination section 12, and outputs the image analysis resultto the portion discrimination section 12. Further, in step S10, theportion discrimination section 12 discriminates an imaging inspectionportion using the image analysis result. Here, since it is determined inadvance by the portion discrimination section 12 that there is a highpossibility that the imaging inspection portion corresponds to the lungson the basis of the movement amount of the ultrasound probe 1, apossibility that it is discriminated that the imaging inspection portioncorresponds to the lungs becomes high.

In this way, by determining an analysis order for performing imageanalysis with respect to a plurality of inspection portions, it ispossible to discriminate an imaging inspection portion in a short time,and thus, it is possible to enhance response performance of theultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to Embodiment 3.

Further, as shown in the following Table 7 and Table 8, it is alsopossible to set setting ranges with respect to movement amounts of theultrasound probe 1 in two stages of narrowing down of a plurality ofinspection portions and an analysis order for performing image analysiswith respect to the plurality of inspection portions.

TABLE 7 Pitch Roll Yaw Direction Direction Direction direction directiondirection along X along Y along Z PT RO YW axis axis axis Movementamount 3 4 3 1 0 6 Setting range 0 to 5  0 to 5  0 to 5  0 to 5  0 to 5 0 to 5  (analysis order) Setting range 0 to 10 0 to 10 0 to 10 0 to 10 0to 10 0 to 10 (narrowing down)

TABLE 8 Pitch Roll Yaw Direction Direction Direction direction directiondirection along X along Y along Z PT RO YW axis axis axis Movementamount 3 4 3 1 0 22 Setting range 0 to 5  0 to 5  0 to 5  0 to 5  0 to5  0 to 5  (analysis order) Setting range 0 to 10 0 to 10 0 to 10 0 to10 0 to 10 0 to 10 (narrowing down)

For example, in a case where movement amounts of the ultrasound probe 1as shown in Table 7 are calculated, a movement amount in the directionalong the Z axis is 6, and exceeds an upper limit of a setting rangerelating to an analysis order. Thus, image analysis for an inspectionportion corresponding to the movement amount is performed after imageanalysis for a different inspection portion. Further, for example, in acase where movement amounts of the ultrasound probe 1 as shown in FIG. 8are calculated, a movement amount in the direction along the Z axis is22, and exceeds an upper limit of a setting range relating to narrowingdown. Thus, image analysis is not performed with respect to aninspection portion corresponding to the movement amount.

Embodiment 4

In Embodiments 1 to 3, movement amounts of the ultrasound probe 1 arecompared with movement amount reference values, regardless of anoperator or a subject, but in Embodiment 4, movement amount referencevalues are corrected for each operator or subject, and are compared withthe movement amounts of the ultrasound probe 1.

FIG. 11 shows a configuration of an ultrasound diagnostic apparatusaccording to Embodiment 4. The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus accordingto Embodiment 4 comprises a probe operating information memory 31, inthe configuration of the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according toEmbodiment 1 shown in FIG. 1 , and the probe operating informationmemory 31 is connected to the apparatus controller 16.

The probe operating information memory 31 stores in advance informationrelating to an operation of the ultrasound probe 1 for each operator orsubject. In operating the ultrasound probe 1, it is considered thatthere is a feature or a habit in an operating way of the ultrasoundprobe 1 for each operator, such as an angle of the ultrasound probe on asubject or a moving way of the ultrasound probe 1, for example. Further,in operating the ultrasound probe 1, in accordance with the type of asubject, for example, in accordance with a child or an adult, it isconsidered that an operating way of the ultrasound probe 1 is changed.Thus, it is possible to collect in advance the information relating tothe operation of the ultrasound probe 1 for each operator or subject.

For example, an operator inputs information on the operator or a subjectto the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to Embodiment 4 throughthe operation section 17, and the portion discrimination section 12reads out information relating to an operation of the ultrasound probe 1from the probe operating information memory 31 on the basis of the inputinformation. Further, the portion discrimination section 12 corrects aplurality of movement amount reference values of the movement amountreference value memory 19 on the basis of the information, and comparesthe plurality of corrected movement amount reference values withmovement amounts of the ultrasound probe 1. Thus, it is possible todiscriminate an imaging inspection portion in accordance with anoperator or a subject, it is possible to enhance the accuracy of portiondiscrimination.

In a case where the information relating to the operation of theultrasound probe 1 corresponding to the input information on the subjectis not stored in the probe operating information memory 31, informationon a different subject that is common in weight, height, gender, bodyfat rate, or the like may be used.

EXPLANATION OF REFERENCES

1: ultrasound probe

1A: array transducer

2: transmission/reception section

3: image generation section

4: display controller

5: display section

6: reception section

7: transmission section

8: transmission/reception controller

9: image processing section

10: DSC

11: image analysis section

12: portion discrimination section

13: imaging condition setting section

14: movement detection sensor

15: movement amount calculation section

16: apparatus controller

17: operation section

18: storage section

19: movement amount reference value memory

20: amplification section

21: A/D conversion section

22: beam former

23: signal processing section

31: probe operating information memory

X, Y, Z: axis

PT, RO, YW: direction

B: boundary

What is claimed is:
 1. An ultrasound diagnostic apparatus comprising: anultrasound probe; a transmission circuit that transmits an ultrasoundbeam toward a subject from the ultrasound probe; a reception circuitthat generates reception data on the basis of signals output from theultrasound probe; a movement detection sensor that is attached to theultrasound probe and detects a movement of the ultrasound probe tooutput the movement as a detection signal; a movement amount referencevalue memory in which a plurality of movement amount reference valuescorresponding to a plurality of inspection portions of the subject arestored in advance, each of the plurality of movement amount referencevalues representing a movement amount of the ultrasound probe movedwhile inspecting the corresponding inspection portion; and a processorthat images the subject on the basis of the reception data generated bythe reception circuit to generate an ultrasound image, performs imageanalysis using the generated ultrasound image, calculates a movementamount of the ultrasound probe while inspecting an imaging inspectionportion that is currently being imaged among a plurality of inspectionportions of the subject, using the detection signal output from themovement detection sensor, reads out the plurality of movement amountreference values from the movement amount reference value memory,compares each of the plurality of read-out movement amount referencevalues with the movement amount of the ultrasound probe, anddiscriminates the imaging inspection portion on the basis of thecomparison result and the result of the image analysis.
 2. Theultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein theprocessor integrates the comparison result and the result of the imageanalysis to discriminate the imaging inspection portion.
 3. Theultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to claim 2, wherein theprocessor performs the image analysis using the ultrasound image tocalculate a feature amount of the ultrasound image, and integrates thefeature amount and the comparison result to discriminate the imaginginspection portion.
 4. The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein the processor narrows down the plurality of inspectionportions that are targets of the image analysis, on the basis of themovement amount of the ultrasound probe, performs the image analysiswith respect to the narrowed-down inspection portions, and discriminatesthe imaging inspection portion using the result of the image analysis.5. The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein theprocessor determines an analysis order for performing the image analysiswith respect to the plurality of inspection portions, on the basis ofthe movement amount of the ultrasound probe, sequentially performs theimage analysis with respect to the plurality of inspection portions inaccordance with the determined analysis order, and discriminates theimaging inspection portion using the result of the image analysis. 6.The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to claim 4, wherein theprocessor determines an analysis order for performing the image analysiswith respect to the plurality of inspection portions, on the basis ofthe movement amount of the ultrasound probe, sequentially performs theimage analysis with respect to the plurality of inspection portions inaccordance with the determined analysis order, and discriminates theimaging inspection portion using the result of the image analysis. 7.The ultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, furthercomprising: a probe operating information memory in which informationrelating to an operation of the ultrasound probe is stored in advancefor each inspector or each subject, wherein the processor reads out theinformation relating to the operation of the ultrasound probe from theprobe operating information memory, corrects the plurality of movementamount reference values on the basis of the read-out information,compares each of the plurality of corrected movement amount referencevalues with the movement amount of the ultrasound probe, anddiscriminates the imaging inspection portion on the basis of thecomparison result and the result of the image analysis.
 8. Theultrasound diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein theprocessor sets an imaging condition corresponding to the discriminatedimaging inspection portion, and generates the ultrasound image inaccordance with the set imaging condition.
 9. The ultrasound diagnosticapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the movement detection sensor isformed by an acceleration sensor, a gyro sensor, a magnetic sensor, or aGPS sensor.
 10. A control method of an ultrasound diagnostic apparatuscomprising: transmitting an ultrasound beam toward a subject from anultrasound probe; generating reception data on the basis of signalsoutput from the ultrasound probe; imaging the subject on the basis ofthe generated reception data to generate an ultrasound image; performingimage analysis using the generated ultrasound image; detecting amovement of the ultrasound probe to output the movement as a detectionsignal; storing in advance a plurality of movement amount referencevalues corresponding to a plurality of inspection portions of thesubject in a movement amount reference value memory, each of theplurality of movement amount reference values representing a movementamount of the ultrasound probe moved while inspecting the correspondinginspection portion; calculating a movement amount of the ultrasoundprobe while inspecting an imaging inspection portion that is currentlybeing imaged among a plurality of inspection portions of the subject,using the output detection signal; reading out the plurality of movementamount reference values from the movement amount reference value memory;comparing each of the plurality of read-out movement amount referencevalues with the movement amount of the ultrasound probe; anddiscriminating the imaging inspection portion on the basis of thecomparison result and the result of the image analysis.